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Drinkers have been warned about buying cheap bottles of wine at corner shops and off-licences because they may be counterfeit versions labelled as well-known brands.

Officials said that gangs are selling low-quality wine with forged labels to small, independent shopkeepers. Bottles have been found to contain cleaning products, screen wash and antifreeze, and experts said that popular, entry-level brands such as Jacob’s Creek and E & J Gallo are targets.

In Staffordshire, trading standards officials found that almost one in five off-licences, 75 out of 415, were selling counterfeit alcohol, while in Edgware, north London, one store was found with